After the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Jonny May opened up about his clash with Steve Borthwick in August.
May decided to retire from international rugby after the World Cup. At 33 years old, he debuted in 2013 and stands as England men’s second-highest try-scorer ever, with 36 tries in 78 Tests, following Rory Underwood.
The conflict arose in August, shortly after the birth of his first child, Jaxon, when May received advance notice that he wasn’t initially included in the World Cup squad.
“The truth is that on the Monday before we played Wales, Steve spoke to me and said as it stands you’re not playing at the weekend and aren’t in the 33,” says May.
“That got my monkey out, I’ll be honest. I was like, “Well, what the hell am I doing here this week?”
“I reacted angrily but rationally. I went to the gym for 10 minutes and then stomped back to him and said I need another chat. I said, “I’m running this by you because maybe I don’t want to be here this week. Why am I here? I’ve got my son at home”.
“He said he didn’t want me to go home because I was next in and it wouldn’t look good if I quit now, then had to be called back in. I was like, “Fair enough, good point. Just calm down and plough on with it”.’
A few weeks later, after a cruel twist of injury fate for Anthony Watson, May was called up to the World Cup squad.
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Highest-paid rugby players:
Breaking records and raising eyebrows, these players are leading the charge in the financial stakes of rugby union. Here’s the rundown of the top earners in the game according to The Scotsman:
Siya Kolisi – £850,000
The South African skipper boasts an impressive resume with two Rugby World Cup triumphs and a commendable third-place finish. At French powerhouse Racing 92, Kolisi has been commanding a salary of £850,000, but with the recent arrival of Owen Farrell, he might be eyeing a bump in his paycheck.
Faf De Klerk – £900,000
De Klerk, another key figure in South Africa’s World Cup-winning squad, has made his mark in Japan. Playing for the Yokohama Canon Eagles, he’s banking a cool £900,000 annually, showcasing the global appeal of rugby’s top talents.
